Hand device, electronic timepiece, hand driving method of electronic timepiece and recording medium

ABSTRACT

A hand device includes a hand configured to reciprocally move in a fan shape at an equal speed in a counterclockwise direction and in a clockwise direction, a driving unit configured to drive the hand, and a display unit, at least a part of which is arranged below the hand and within a reciprocal movement range of the hand, the display unit being configured to display predetermined information by a combination of a blinking and a position of the hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-46432 filed on Mar. 10,2016, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates to a hand device having a retrograde hand, anelectronic timepiece, a hand driving method of the electronic timepieceand a recording medium.

The retrograde is a French astronomical terminology indicative of theantecedence. In a timepiece, the retrograde means a mechanism configuredto display time, a calendar and the like by a hand configured torepetitively move. Herein, an example of a day display in which sevendays are set as one period is described. A day hand of the retrogrademoves from Monday, which is a starting point, to Sunday, which is anending point, via Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday byone day. Also, when switching from Sunday to next Monday, the day handswitches to the starting point in a moment. Thereby, the entertainmentcharacteristic is secured by the movement of the hand, which is pleasureto user's eyes.

For example, an Abstract of a Japanese Patent Application PublicationNo. 2005-315669A discloses “A day display area is made into a fan-shapeddisplay of a retrograde tone, a year display area and an alarm settingstate check area are arranged in a surplus area thereof, and thecorresponding information is displayed by a day hand 7. A displaycontent of the day hand 7 can be arbitrarily changed by an externaloperation in a current time display mode. Thereby, it is possible todisplay the information as much as possible in a limited display area,to check the information on the current time display mode withoutchanging a mode to call a predetermined mode, and to simplify theoperation specifications.”

According to the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, it ispossible to display a plurality of operation functions by theretrograde. However, according to this configuration, the currentoperation mode is simply displayed and the user cannot easily understandan operation state of a device such as a function shift operation andthe like by the movement of the hand.

Also, the retrograde disclosed in Patent Document 1 is implemented byproviding an area in which it can rotate over one week and using afan-shaped area of a part thereof. Thereby, even though the hand is notrotatively driven in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions, thehand is rotatively driven only in one direction, so that the retrogradecan be implemented. However, as compared to the retrograde configured toreciprocally move the hand in the fan-shaped area, the display area issmaller, so that the visibility is lower.

Also, there is a retrograde configured to gradually accumulate therepulsive energy in an elastic body such as a spring, a windup spring orthe like as the hand moves, and to switch the hand to the starting pointby using the repulsive energy at the ending point. According to thismechanism, it is possible to move the hand to the fan-shaped area.However, since the energy is accumulated in the elastic body, themovement of the hand is limited to only one direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to display a variety ofinformation in a fan-shaped area by a retrograde hand capable ofreciprocally moving at an equal speed in a counterclockwise directionand in a clockwise direction, in a hand device, an electronic timepiece,a hand driving method of the electronic timepiece and a recordingmedium.

A hand device according to the invention comprises:

a hand configured to reciprocally move in a fan shape at an equal speedin a counterclockwise direction and in a clockwise direction;

a driving unit configured to drive the hand; and

a display unit, at least a part of which is arranged below the hand andwithin a reciprocal movement range of the hand, the display unit beingconfigured to display predetermined information by a combination of ablinking and a position of the hand.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view depicting an electronictimepiece of an exemplary embodiment.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict shift to a timer mode.

FIGS. 3A to 3I illustrate operations in the timer mode.

FIGS. 4A to 4E depict movement of a retrograde hand in the timer mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting hand-moving processing of the retrogradehand in the timer mode.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting hour hand and minute handfast-forwarding check processing.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict shift to a stop watch mode.

FIGS. 8A to 8I illustrate operations in the stop watch mode.

FIGS. 9A to 9D depict movement of the retrograde hand in the stop watchmode.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting hand-moving processing of theretrograde hand in the stop watch mode.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting hour hand and minute handfast-forwarding check processing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be describedin detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration view depicting an electronictimepiece 1 of the exemplary embodiment.

The electronic timepiece 1 of the exemplary embodiment is configured torespectively drive an hour hand 21 a, a minute hand 21 b and aretrograde hand 21 c by independent motors and is not particularlylimited. However, for example, a wristwatch-type electronic timepiecehaving a band for mount on an arm may be exemplified. The electronictimepiece 1 has the hour hand 21 a, the minute hand 21 b, the retrogradehand 21 c, stepping motors 23 a to 23 c configured to rotatively drivethe hands via wheel train mechanisms 22 a to 22 c, a driving circuit 24,and a microcomputer 3, for example. The electronic timepiece 1 furtherhas a power supply unit 34, an oscillator 33, LCDs (Liquid CrystalDisplays) 41 to 43, a buzzer 44, a light 45, switches 51 to 54 and acrown 55. Meanwhile, in FIG. 1, the switches 51 to 54 are simplyreferred to as “SW”.

In the below, when it is not necessary to particularly distinguish thewheel train mechanisms 22 a to 22 c, they are simply referred to as thewheel train mechanism 22. When it is not necessary to particularlydistinguish the stepping motors 23 a to 23 c, they are simply referredto as the stepping motor 23.

The driving circuit 24 is a bridge circuit configured to drive thestepping motor 23, and configures a motor driving device by acombination with the microcomputer 3. The microcomputer 3 is alarge-scale integration (LSI) circuit and includes a CPU (CentralProcessing Unit) 31, a peripheral circuit 32, an oscillation circuit 35,a frequency division circuit 36 and a timekeeping circuit 37.

Each of the stepping motors 23 a to 23 c is a high-torque motor having aplurality of coils, for example. The stepping motors 23 a to 23 c areconfigured to drive the hour hand 21 a, the minute hand 21 b and theretrograde hand 21 c via the wheel train mechanisms 22 a to 22 c,thereby enabling the hands to indicate predetermined directions. Acombination of the wheel train mechanism 22 c, the stepping motor 23 c,the driving circuit 24 and the microcomputer 3 configures the drivingunit configured to drive the retrograde hand 21 c.

The hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 b are provided to be rotatableat a central rotary shaft of a main dial plate 6 (refer to FIG. 2A). Theretrograde hand 21 c is configured to reciprocally move over a range ofabout 120° about a rotary shaft thereof. Since the stepping motor 23 chas high torque performance, it can reciprocally move the retrogradehand 21 c in a fan shape at an equal speed in a counterclockwisedirection and in a clockwise direction.

The driving circuit 24 is configured to output driving voltage signalsfor driving the stepping motors 23 a to 23 c at an appropriate timing,based on a control signal input from the microcomputer 3. The drivingcircuit 24 can adjust and output a driving voltage and a driving voltagepulse width of the stepping motor 23, based on a setting signal from themicrocomputer 3. The driving circuit 24 can output the driving voltagesignal to the stepping motor 23 in a forward rotation direction or areverse rotation direction.

The CPU 31 is configured to perform a variety of calculation processingand to collectively control an entire operation of the electronictimepiece 1. The CPU 31 is configured to read and execute a controlprogram, to enable the respective units to continuously performoperations relating to the time display, and to perform a requestedoperation in real time or at a set timing on the basis of an inputoperation through the switches 51 to 54 and the crown 55, which are theoperation unit. The switches 51 to 54 and the crown 55 are configured tofunction as the reception unit for receiving an operation mode, and theCPU 31 is configured to drive the retrograde hand 21 c to a positionindicating the corresponding operation mode by the wheel train mechanism22 c, the stepping motor 23 c and the driving circuit 24.

The CPU 31 is a control unit configured to set target positions to whichthe hour hand 21 a, the minute hand 21 b and the retrograde hand 21 care to move and to control the driving of the stepping motor 23 via thedriving circuit 24. The CPU 31 is further configured to display avariety of information on the LCDs 41 to 43, which are the display unit,and to notify a user of a variety of information by the buzzer 44 andthe light 45, which are the notification unit.

The oscillation circuit 35 is configured to generate an inherentfrequency signal and to output the same to the frequency divisioncircuit 36. As the oscillation circuit 35, a circuit configured tooscillate in combination with the oscillator 33 such as crystal is used,for example.

The frequency division circuit 36 is configured to divide and output thesignal input from the oscillation circuit 35 into signals of diversefrequencies, which are to be used by the CPU 31 and the timekeepingcircuit 37.

The timekeeping circuit 37 is a counter circuit configured to count thesignals of predetermined frequencies input from the frequency divisioncircuit 36, to add the same to initial time and to count current time.The current time to be counted by the timekeeping circuit 37 is read outby the CPU 31 and is used for time display. The counting of the time maybe controlled in a software manner.

The power supply unit 34 is configured so that the electronic timepiece1 can operate continuously and stably for a long time, and is acombination of a battery and a DC-DC converter, for example. Thereby, anoutput voltage of the power supply unit 34 under operation is kept at apredetermined value.

Operations in Timer Mode

A timer mode is a mode in which remaining time of preset time isdisplayed (countdown) and elapse of the set time is notified when theremaining time becomes 0 minute, 0 second. Time information that is tobe displayed in the timer mode is herein referred to as remaining timeof the timer. The remaining time of the timer is displayed by acombination of second information (first time information) and minuteinformation (second time information), which is a set of the secondinformation.

FIGS. 2A and 2B depict shift of the electronic timepiece 1 to the timermode.

FIG. 2A is an outline view of the electronic timepiece 1 in a basictimepiece mode.

The electronic timepiece 1 has a disc-shaped main dial plate 6 and afan-shaped sub-dial plate 7 provided at a lower part of the main dialplate 6. At a center of the main dial plate 6, a rotary shaft of thehour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 b is provided. A rotary shaft ofthe retrograde hand 21 c is provided at a lower part of the fan-shapedsub-dial plate 7. On the sub-dial plate 7, numbers from zero (0) to 60are inscribed in order from left, which indicate meanings to bedisplayed by the retrograde hand 21 c and the LCD 41. In the sub-dialplate 7, the inscription “0” is inscribed at a position inclinedleftward by 60°, the inscription “10” is inscribed at a positioninclined leftward by 40°, the inscription “20” is inscribed at aposition inclined leftward by 20°, the inscription “40” is inscribed ata position inclined rightward by 20°, the inscription “50” is inscribedat a position inclined rightward by 40°, and the inscription “60” isinscribed at a position inclined rightward by 60°.

On the sub-dial plate 7, letters of ST”, “WT”, “AL” and “TR” are furtherinscribed in order from left. The letter “ST” indicates a stop watchmode, the letter “WT” indicates a world time mode, the letter “AL”indicates an alarm mode, and the letter “TR” indicates a timer mode.Herein, the world time indicates a function by which times of main worldcities, which are a second time zone except for a current location, canbe known. The world time mode is a mode in which main world cities areto be set and times of the main cities are to be displayed.

The LCD 41 is arranged below the retrograde hand 21 c and within areciprocal movement range of the retrograde hand 21 c. It is possible todisplay the remaining time of the timer and the elapse time of the stopwatch by combining blinking of the LCD 41 and the position of theretrograde hand 21 c. The LCD 41 has an ST display element 41Lconfigured to display the letter “ST”, a minute display element 41Mconfigured to turn on/turn off respective elements of 0 minute to 60minutes, and a TR display element 41R configured to display the letter“TR”. The respective elements of 0 minute to 60 minutes, which configurethe minute display element 41M, are configured as a radial shape everytwo degrees, and is arranged in a fan shape as a whole. In the meantime,the lighting of the LCD 41 indicates that black is to be displayed. TheLCD 41 is configured to display the remaining time of the timer, theelapse time of the stop watch and the like by a combination of theblinking and the position indicated by the retrograde hand 21 c.

The LCD 42 is arranged at an upper-left side of the main dial plate 6.The LCD 43 is arranged at an upper-right side of the main dial plate 6.

In the basic timepiece mode, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theupper side in FIG. 2A, and the ST display element 41L and the TR displayelement 41R are turned off. The LCD 42 displays a current day in Englishsuch as “SUN”, for example. The LCD 43 indicates that the present isJune 30, such as “6-30”, for example.

FIG. 2B is an outline view of the electronic timepiece 1 when it shiftsto the timer mode.

When the user pushes the switch 53 in the basic timepiece mode, theelectronic timepiece 1 shifts to the timer mode. When the electronictimepiece shifts to the timer mode, the retrograde hand 21 c indicatesthe letter “TR” for a predetermined time, so that a display shown inFIG. 3A is made, which will be described later. At this time, when thelight 45 is turned on, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the letter“TR” until afterglow of the light 45 is over.

The LCD 41 turns on the minute display element 41M for a timer-setminute (herein, 10 minutes), and also turns on the TR display element41R, thereby indicating the shift to the timer mode. The LCD 42 displaysa minute and a second of the remaining time of the timer by integers,and the LCD 43 displays the number of decimal places of the second ofthe remaining time of the timer by a number.

FIGS. 3A to 3I illustrate operations in the timer mode. In the timermode, the TR display element 41R at the right end of the LCD 41 isturned on to indicate the letter “TR”, and the ST display element 41L isturned off.

FIG. 3A depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a starting time point 10minutes, 0.0 second of the countdown.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “60” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on the elementsof 0 minute to 9 minutes, and turns off the elements of 10 minutes to 60minutes. In this way, when the CPU 31 does the countdown from n minute,0.0 second (n: natural number), it controls so that the retrograde hand21 c indicates the position “60”. Thereby, it is possible to suppressthe flyback at the starting time point of the countdown.

FIG. 3B depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 9 minutes, 37.6 seconds.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “38” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on the elementsof 0 minute to 8 minutes, blinks the element of 9 minutes, and turns offthe elements of 10 minutes to 60 minutes. In FIG. 3B, the element of 9minutes being blinked is shown as a display element 41 b. A blinkingperiod is a few Hz. By the blinking of the display element 41 b, it ispossible to indicate that the timer is operating. Herein, when the userperforms a stop operation, the electronic timepiece shifts to a stateshown in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 3C depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 9 minutes, 37.6 seconds and thecountdown has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “38” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 8 minutes, and turns off the elements of 9minutes to 60 minutes. Herein, when the user performs a start operation,the electronic timepiece shifts to the state shown in FIG. 3B.

FIG. 3D depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 3 minutes, 21.4 seconds as the timeelapses from FIG. 3B.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “21.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 3 minutes, blinks the element of 4 minutes, andturns off the elements of 5 minutes to 60 minutes. In FIG. 3D, theelement of 4 minutes being blinked is shown as the display element 41 b.A blinking period is a few Hz. By the blinking of the display element 41b, it is possible to indicate that the timer is operating. Herein, whenthe user performs the stop operation, the electronic timepiece shifts toa state shown in FIG. 3E.

FIG. 3E depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 3 minutes, 21.4 seconds and thecountdown has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “21.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 3 minutes, and turns off the elements of 4minutes to 60 minutes. Herein, when the user performs the startoperation, the electronic timepiece shifts to the state shown in FIG.3D.

FIG. 3F depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 0 minute, 8.7 seconds as the timeelapses from FIG. 3B.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “9” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M blinks the element of 0minute, and turns off the elements of 4 minutes to 60 minutes. In FIG.3F, the element of 0 minute being blinked is shown as the displayelement 41 b. A blinking period is a few Hz. By the blinking of thedisplay element 41 b, it is possible to indicate that the timer isoperating. Herein, when the user performs the stop operation, theelectronic timepiece shifts to a state shown in FIG. 3G.

FIG. 3G depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which theremaining time is counted down to 0 minute, 8.7 seconds and thecountdown has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “9” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns off all theelements. Herein, when the user performs the start operation, theelectronic timepiece shifts to the state shown in FIG. 3F.

FIG. 3H depicts a first state of the sub-dial plate 7 at a time pointthat time is up

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “0” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on the elementsof 0 minute to 2 minutes, turns off the elements of 3 minutes to 5minutes and repeats the lighting and the lights-out, thereby configuringa 10-stripe pattern.

FIG. 3I depicts a second state of the sub-dial plate 7 at a time pointthat time is up

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “0” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns off the elementsof 0 minute to 2 minutes, turns on the elements of 3 minutes to 5minutes and repeats the lighting and the lights-out, thereby configuringa 10-stripe pattern. In the stripe pattern of the minute display element41M shown in FIG. 3I, the elements turned on and turned off in theminute display element 41M of FIG. 3H are turned off and turned on,respectively.

The first state of FIG. 3H and the second state of FIG. 3I arealternately repeated with a predetermined interval, so that the displayof the minute display element 41M has an entertainment characteristic,which is pleasure to user's eyes.

FIGS. 4A to 4E depict movement of the retrograde hand 21 c in the timermode.

FIG. 4A depicts the retrograde hand 21 c between 0 second and 59.6seconds per minute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “60” of the sub-dial plate 7.

FIG. 4B depicts the retrograde hand 21 c between 59.5 seconds and 59.1seconds per minute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates aposition “59.5” of the sub-dial plate 7. Thereafter, as time elapses,the remaining time of the timer is counted down, and the retrograde hand21 c gently rotates by 1 per second in the counterclockwise direction.

FIG. 4C depicts the retrograde hand 21 c between 0 second and 0.6 secondper minute.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “1” of thesub-dial plate 7.

FIG. 4D depicts the retrograde hand 21 c between 0.5 second and 0.1second per minute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates aposition “0.5” of the sub-dial plate 7. Thereafter, when the minutedecreases, the retrograde hand 21 c is fast forwarded in the clockwisedirection, thereby indicating the position “60” in a moment. This isreferred to as the flyback of the retrograde hand 21 c. After theflyback in one second, the retrograde hand 21 c gently moves in thecounterclockwise direction for about 1 minute, and alternately repeatsthe hand-moving and the flyback. By the movement of the retrograde hand21 c, the timer display has an entertainment characteristic, which ispleasure to user's eyes. Also, since the retrograde hand 21 c isconfigured to fly back and to fast forward at 0.5 second per minute andto indicate the position “60” at 0 second per minute, it can express anoperation pattern without being late for the decrease of minute.

FIG. 4E depicts the retrograde hand 21 c at a time point at which timeis up. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “0.0”of the sub-dial plate 7.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting hand-moving processing of the retrogradehand 21 c in the timer mode.

Due to a battery capacity, it is not possible to simultaneously performthe sound reporting of the buzzer 44 or the lighting of the light 45 andthe flyback (fast forwarding) of the retrograde hand 21 c. Therefore, itis necessary to perform the operations while making both timings thereofdifferent from each other. Specifically, it is preferably to put apriority on the sound reporting of the buzzer 44 or the lighting of thelight 45 and to fast forward the retrograde hand 21 c in conformity tothe second information of the remaining time of the timer upon theending of the lighting and upon the ending of the sound reporting. Thebelow is a flowchart for implementing the corresponding operation.

When starting the countdown of the timer, the CPU 31 sets the minutedisplay element 41M of the LCD 41 on the basis of the minute informationof the set time of the timer (step S10) and fast forwards the retrogradehand 21 c so as to indicate the second information of the set time ofthe timer (step S11). Specifically, when the set time of the timer is 10minutes, 0 second, the minute display element 41M turns on the elementsof 0 minute to 9 minutes and the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “60”, as shown in FIG. 3A. In the meantime, the fast forwardingof the retrograde hand 21 c by the CPU 31 is performed by calling hourhand and minute hand fast-forwarding check processing (refer to FIG. 6to be described later).

Then, as time elapses, the CPU 31 moves the retrograde hand 21 c in thecounterclockwise direction (step S12) and determines whether the crown55 is pushed (step S13). When it is determined that the crown 55 ispushed (step S13→Yes), the CPU 31 stops the retrograde hand 21 c andshifts to a stop state.

The CPU 31 determines whether the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “0.5 second” (step S14). When it is determined that theretrograde hand 21 c does not indicate the position “0.5 second” (stepS14→No), the CPU 31 returns to step S12 and moves the retrograde hand 21c. When it is determined that the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “0.5 second” (step S14→Yes), the CPU 31 turns off one elementof the minute display element 41M, thereby decreasing the minute display(step S15).

Then, the CPU 31 determines whether time is up (step S16). When it isdetermined that time is up, the CPU shifts to a time-up state.

Also, the CPU 31 determines whether the buzzer 44 reports a sound orwhether the light 45 is turned on (step S17). When it is determined thatany of the sound reporting and the lighting is not made, the CPU 31 fastforwards the retrograde hand 21 c to the position “60” (step S20). Then,the CPU 31 returns to step S12 and repeats the hand-moving of theretrograde hand 21 c.

When it is determined that the sound is being reported or the light isturned on, the CPU 31 stands by until the sound reporting or thelighting is over (step S18), and fast forwards the retrograde hand 21 cto the position of the second information of the remaining time of thetimer (step S19). Then, the CPU 31 returns to step S12, and repeats thehand-moving of the retrograde hand 21 c.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting hour hand and minute handfast-forwarding check processing.

Due to the battery capacity, it is not possible to simultaneouslyperform the fast forwarding of the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21b and the flyback (fast forwarding) of the retrograde hand 21 c.Therefore, it is necessary to perform the operations while making bothtimings thereof different from each other. Specifically, it ispreferably to put a priority on the flyback of the retrograde hand 21 cand to fast forward the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 b upon theending of the flyback. The below is a flowchart for implementing thecorresponding operation.

When it is determined that the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 bare not under fast-forwarding (step S40→No), the CPU 31 fast forwardsthe retrograde hand 21 c in the clockwise direction (step S44), and endsthe processing of FIG. 6.

When it is determined that the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 bare under fast-forwarding (step S40→Yes), the CPU 31 stops the hour hand21 a and the minute hand 21 b (step S41) and fast forwards theretrograde hand 21 c in the clockwise direction (step S42). Then, theCPU 31 resumes the fast-forwarding of the hour hand 21 a and the minutehand 21 b (step S43), and ends the processing of FIG. 6.

Operations in Stop Watch Mode

The stop watch mode is a mode in which elapse time of a specific eventis to be measured. In the stop watch mode, elapse time from occurrenceof an event is counted up and displayed. The elapse time of the stopwatch is displayed by a combination of the second information (firsttime information) and the minute information (second time information),which is a set of the second information.

In the stop watch mode, the movement of the retrograde hand 21 c isopposite to the movement in the timer mode. In the exemplary embodiment,since the stepping motor 23 c is a high-torque motor having a pluralityof coils, it is possible to reciprocally move the retrograde hand 21 cin a fan shape at an equal speed in the counterclockwise direction andin the clockwise direction. Therefore, the electronic timepiece 1 of theexemplary embodiment can implement both the movement in the timer modeshown in FIGS. 4A to 4E and the movement in the stop watch mode shown inFIGS. 9A to 9D.

FIGS. 7A and 7B depict shifts to the respective modes.

FIG. 7A is an outline view of the electronic timepiece 1 in the alarmmode.

In the alarm mode, the retrograde hand 21 c continues to indicate theletter “AL” of the sub-dial plate 7, thereby indicating the alarm mode.The LCD 42 displays an alarm number of a setting target. Herein, the LCD42 displays the letter “AL1”, thereby indicating that a first alarm isset. The LCD 43 displays the alarm time. Herein, “12:00” is displayed,which indicates that “12 o'clock, 0 minute” is set as the first alarm.When a predetermined operation is performed in the alarm mode or in thebasic timepiece mode of FIG. 2A, the mode shifts to the stop watch modeof FIG. 7B.

FIG. 7B is an outline view of the electronic timepiece 1 when it shiftsto the stop watch mode.

When the user pushes the switch 53 in the alarm mode, the electronictimepiece 1 shifts to the stop watch mode. When the electronic timepiece1 shifts to the stop watch mode, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theletter “ST” for a predetermined time, so that a display of FIG. 8A ismade, which will be described later. The LCD 41 turns on the ST displayelement 41L of the left end, thereby indicating the shift to the stopwatch mode. The LCD 42 displays an hour and a minute of the measuredvalue of the stop watch by integers, and the LCD 43 displays the secondof the measured value of the stop watch and the number of decimal placesof the second by numbers.

FIGS. 8A to 8I illustrate operations in the stop watch mode. In the stopwatch mode, the ST display element 41L at the left end of the LCD 41 isturned on to indicate the letter “ST”, and the TR display element 41R isturned off.

FIG. 8A depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a starting time point 0 minute,0.0 second of the count-up.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “0” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M positioned at a centralpart of the LCD 41 turns off all the elements of 0 minute to 60 minutes.In this way, when the CPU 31 does the count-up from n minute, 0.0 second(n: natural number), it controls so that the retrograde hand 21 cindicates the position “0”, contrary to the countdown. Thereby, it ispossible to suppress the flyback at the starting time point of thecount-up.

FIG. 8B depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 0 minute, 18.76 seconds.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “18.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M blinks the elementof 0 minute, and turns off the elements of 1 minute to 60 minutes. InFIG. 8B, the element of 0 minute being blinked is shown as the displayelement 41 b. A blinking period is a few Hz. By the blinking of thedisplay element 41 b, it is possible to indicate that the stop watch isoperating. Herein, when the user performs a stop operation, theelectronic timepiece shifts to a state shown in FIG. 8C.

FIG. 8C depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 0 minute, 18.76 seconds and has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “18.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns off all theelements of 0 minute to 60 minutes. Herein, when the user performs astart operation, the electronic timepiece shifts to the state shown inFIG. 8B.

FIG. 8D depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 5 minutes, 42.56 seconds.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “42.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 5 minutes, blinks the element of 6 minutes, andturns off the elements of 7 minutes to 60 minutes. In FIG. 8D, theelement of 6 minutes being blinked is shown as the display element 41 b.A blinking period is a few Hz. By the blinking of the display element 41b, it is possible to indicate that the stop watch is operating. Herein,when the user performs the stop operation, the electronic timepieceshifts to a state shown in FIG. 8E.

FIG. 8E depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 5 minutes, 42.56 seconds and has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “42.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 5 minutes, and turns off the elements of 6minutes to 60 minutes. Herein, when the user performs the startoperation, the electronic timepiece shifts to the state shown in FIG.8D.

FIG. 8F depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 59 minutes, 53.42 seconds.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “53” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on the elementsof 0 minute to 59 minutes, and blinks the element of 60 minutes. In FIG.8F, the element of 60 minutes being blinked is shown as the displayelement 41 b. A blinking period is a few Hz. By the blinking of thedisplay element 41 b, it is possible to indicate that the stop watch isoperating. Herein, when the user performs the stop operation, theelectronic timepiece shifts to a state shown in FIG. 8G.

FIG. 8G depicts the sub-dial plate 7 at a time point at which thecount-up is done to 59 minutes, 53.42 seconds and has stopped.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “53” ofthe sub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns on theelements of 0 minute to 59 minutes and turns off the element of 60minutes. Herein, when the user performs the start operation, theelectronic timepiece shifts to the state shown in FIG. 8F.

FIG. 8H depicts the sub-dial plate 7 after one hour elapses.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “59.5” ofthe sub-dial plate 7 and then flies back to the position “0”. Thereby,the movement of the retrograde hand 21 c has an entertainmentcharacteristic, which is pleasure to user's eyes. The minute displayelement 41M blinks the element of 0 minute and turns off the elements of1 minute to 60 minutes. By the blinking of the display element 41 b, itis possible to indicate that the stop watch is operating. When theretrograde hand 21 c flies back to the position “0”, the electronictimepiece shifts to a state shown in FIG. 8I.

FIG. 8I depicts the sub-dial plate 7 after one hour elapses.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates the position “0” of thesub-dial plate 7. The minute display element 41M turns off all theelements of 0 minute to 60 minutes. Thereby, the electronic timepiece 1expresses that the stop watch has stopped.

A split means progression elapse time from start of the stop watch toany time point. During the split of the electronic timepiece 1, both theretrograde hand 21 c and the minute display element 41M display splittime. That is, the retrograde hand 21 c stops at a second of the splittime, and the minute display element 41M turns on the elements of 0minute to (minute of split time—1) minutes, and blinks the element ofthe minute of the split time.

FIGS. 9A to 9D depict the movement of the retrograde hand 21 c in thestop watch mode.

FIG. 9A depicts the retrograde hand 21 c from 0 second to 0.4 second perminute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates 0.0.

FIG. 9B depicts the retrograde hand 21 c from 0.5 second to 0.9 secondper minute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position“0.5” of the sub-dial plate 7. Thereafter, as time elapses, the stopwatch counts up, and the retrograde hand 21 c gently rotates by 1 persecond in the clockwise direction.

FIG. 9C depicts the retrograde hand 21 c from 59.0 seconds to 59.4seconds per minute.

At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates a position “59” of thesub-dial plate 7.

FIG. 9D depicts the retrograde hand 21 c from 59.5 seconds to 59.9seconds per minute. At this time, the retrograde hand 21 c indicates aposition “59.5” of the sub-dial plate 7. Thereafter, when the minuteincreases, the retrograde hand 21 c is fast rewound in thecounterclockwise direction and immediately indicates 0 second. This isreferred to as the flyback of the retrograde hand 21 c. After theflyback in one second, the retrograde hand 21 c gently moves in theclockwise direction for about 1 minute, and alternately repeats thehand-moving and the flyback. By the movement of the retrograde hand 21c, the stopwatch display has an entertainment characteristic, which ispleasure to user's eyes. Also, since the retrograde hand 21 c isconfigured to fly back and to be fast rewound at 59.5 second per minuteand to indicate the position “0” at 0 second per minute, it can expressan operation pattern without being late for the increase of minute.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart depicting hand-moving processing of theretrograde hand 21 c in the stop watch mode.

Due to the battery capacity, it is not possible to simultaneouslyperform the sound reporting of the buzzer 44 or the lighting of thelight 45 and the flyback (fast rewinding) of the retrograde hand 21 c.Therefore, it is necessary to perform the operations while making bothtimings thereof different from each other. Specifically, it ispreferably to put a priority on the sound reporting of the buzzer 44 andthe lighting of the light 45 and to fast rewind the retrograde hand 21 cin conformity to the second information of the elapse time of the stopwatch upon the ending of the lighting and upon the ending of the soundreporting. The below is a flowchart for implementing the correspondingoperation.

When starting the measurement of the stop watch, the CPU 31 clears theminute display element 41M of the LCD 41 to display 0 minute (step S50)and fast rewinds the retrograde hand 21 c to indicate the position “0”(step S51). In the meantime, the fast rewinding of the retrograde hand21 c by the CPU 31 is performed by calling hour hand and minute handfast-forwarding check processing (refer to FIG. 11 to be describedlater).

Then, as time elapses, the CPU 31 moves the retrograde hand 21 c in theclockwise direction (step S52) and determines whether the crown 55 ispushed (step S53). When it is determined that the crown 55 is pushed(step S53→Yes), the CPU 31 stops the retrograde hand 21 c and shifts toa stop state.

When it is determined that the crown 55 is not pushed (step S53→No), theCPU 31 determines whether the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “59.5 second” (step S54). When it is determined that theretrograde hand 21 c does not indicate the position “59.5 second” (stepS54→No), the CPU 31 returns to step S52 and moves the retrograde hand 21c. When it is determined that the retrograde hand 21 c indicates theposition “59.5 second” (step S54→Yes), the CPU 31 newly turns on oneelement of the minute display element 41M, thereby increasing the minutedisplay (step S55).

Then, the CPU 31 determines whether one hour has elapsed (step S56).When it is determined that one hour has elapsed, the CPU shifts to thestop state.

Also, when it is determined that one hour has not elapsed (step S56→No),the CPU 31 determines whether the buzzer 44 reports a sound or whetherthe light 45 is turned on (step S57). When it is determined that any ofthe sound reporting and the lighting is not made, the CPU 31 fastrewinds the retrograde hand 21 c to the position “0” (step S20). Then,the CPU 31 returns to step S52 and repeats the hand-moving of theretrograde hand 21 c.

When it is determined that the sound is being reported or the light isturned on (step S57→Yes), the CPU 31 stands by until the sound reportingor the lighting is over (step S58), and fast rewinds the retrograde hand21 c to the position of the second information of the elapse time of thestop watch (step S59). Then, the CPU 31 returns to step S52, and repeatsthe hand-moving of the retrograde hand 21 c.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting hour hand and minute handfast-forwarding check processing.

Due to the battery capacity, it is not possible to simultaneouslyperform the fast forwarding of the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21b and the flyback (fast rewinding) of the retrograde hand 21 c.Therefore, it is necessary to perform the operations while making bothtimings thereof different from each other. Specifically, it ispreferably to put a priority on the flyback of the retrograde hand 21 cand to fast forward the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 b upon theending of the flyback. The below is a flowchart for implementing thecorresponding operation.

When it is determined that the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 bare not under fast-forwarding (step S80→No), the CPU 31 fast rewinds theretrograde hand 21 c in the counterclockwise direction (step S84), andends the processing of FIG. 11.

When it is determined that the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21 bare under fast-forwarding (step S90→Yes), the CPU 31 stops the hour hand21 a and the minute hand 21 b (step S81) and fast rewinds the retrogradehand 21 c in the counterclockwise direction (step S82). Then, the CPU 31resumes the fast-forwarding of the hour hand 21 a and the minute hand 21b (step S83), and ends the processing of FIG. 11.

Modified Embodiments

The invention is not limited to the above exemplary embodiment and canbe changed without departing from the gist of the invention. Forexample, following (a) to (e) embodiments can be exemplified.

(a) The retrograde hand 21 c and the LCD 41 are not limited to theelectronic timepiece 1 and can be applied to any hand device.

(b) The display information by the retrograde hand 21 c and the LCD 41is not limited to the remaining time of the timer and the elapse time ofthe stop watch, may be any information such as current time and worldtime and are not particularly limited.

(c) The position of the sub-dial plate 7 is not limited to the 6-oclockdirection of the main dial plate 6 and may be a 3-oclock direction, a9-oclock direction, a 0-oclock direction or the like. Also, the sub-dialplate 7 is not limited to one and a plurality of sub-dial plates may bearranged on the main dial plate 6.

(d) The remaining time of the timer and the elapse time of the stopwatch are not limited to the combination of the second information andthe minute information, and may be a combination of any time unit and aseparate time unit, which is a set of any time units, such as acombination of the second information and information of a 100-secondunit and a combination of the minute information and hour information.

(e) The operation mode indicated by the retrograde hand 21 c is notlimited to the stop watch mode, the timer mode, the alarm mode and theworld time mode and may be any mode.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic timepiece comprising: a handconfigured to reciprocally move in a fan shape in a counterclockwisedirection and in a clockwise direction; a driving unit configured todrive the hand; and a display unit, at least a part of which is arrangedbelow the hand and within a reciprocal movement range of the hand,wherein the electronic timepiece is configured to display predeterminedinformation by a combination of display by the display unit and aposition of the hand, wherein the electronic timepiece is configured toindicate first time information by a position of the hand and toindicate second time information by the display unit, wherein the firsttime information indicates time in a first unit of time, and the secondtime information indicates time in a second unit of time which longerthan the first unit of time, wherein the electronic timepiece has astopwatch mode to measure an elapsed time which is indicated by thefirst time information and the second time information, and wherein, inthe stopwatch mode: the driving unit is configured to drive the hand inthe clockwise direction from a stopwatch mode origin position as theelapsed time increases to show increments of the elapsed time in thefirst unit of time; the display unit is configured to show increments ofthe elapsed time in the second unit of time; and when the elapsed timeapproaches a next increment of the second unit of time, the driving unitis configured to drive the hand in the counterclockwise direction toreturn the hand to the stopwatch mode origin position.
 2. The electronictimepiece according to claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises adisplay area, which indicates stop watch mode, at a left side.
 3. Theelectronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein the electronictimepiece has a timer mode to count down a set time, the countdown beingindicated by the first time information and the second time information,and wherein, in the timer mode: the driving unit is configured to drivethe hand in the counterclockwise direction from a timer mode originposition as the set time counts down to show increments of the countdownin the first unit of time; and the display unit is configured to showincrements of the countdown in the second unit of time.
 4. Theelectronic timepiece according to claim 3, wherein in the timer mode,when the countdown approaches a next increment of the second unit oftime, the driving unit is configured to drive the hand in the clockwisedirection to return the hand to the timer mode origin position.
 5. Theelectronic timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the display unitcomprises a display area, which indicates the timer mode, at a rightside.
 6. The electronic timepiece according to claim 5, wherein thedisplay unit is configured to blink when the set time has elapsed. 7.The electronic timepiece according to claim 4, wherein the display unitis configured to blink when the set time has elapsed.
 8. The electronictimepiece according to claim 3, wherein the display unit comprises adisplay area, which indicates the timer mode, at a right side.
 9. Theelectronic timepiece according to claim 8, wherein the display unit isconfigured to blink when the set time has elapsed.
 10. The electronictimepiece according to claim 4, wherein, in the timer mode, the drivingunit is configured to drive the hand in the counterclockwise directionat a first speed, and to drive the hand in the clockwise direction at asecond speed which is faster than the first speed.
 11. The electronictimepiece according to claim 3, wherein the display unit is configuredto blink when the set time has elapsed.
 12. The electronic timepieceaccording to claim 3, wherein the driving unit is configured to drivethe hand in the clockwise direction in the stopwatch mode at a samespeed as the driving unit drives the hand in the counterclockwisedirection in the timer mode.
 13. The electronic timepiece according toclaim 3, wherein, in the timer mode, the display unit is configured toblink a portion of the display unit that indicates a currently-elapsingincrement of the second unit of time.
 14. The electronic timepieceaccording to claim 1, wherein the driving unit is operable to drive thehand at a same speed in the clockwise direction as in thecounterclockwise direction, and wherein the driving unit is alsooperable to drive the hand at a different speed in the clockwisedirection than in the counterclockwise direction.
 15. The electronictimepiece according to claim 1, wherein, in the stopwatch mode, thedriving unit is configured to drive the hand in the clockwise directionat a first speed, and to drive the hand in the counterclockwisedirection at a second speed which is faster than the first speed. 16.The electronic timepiece according to claim 1, wherein, in the stopwatchmode, the display unit is configured to blink a portion of the displayunit that indicates a currently-elapsing increment of the second unit oftime.
 17. A method of controlling an electronic timepiece to perform astopwatch function, the electronic timepiece comprising a hand, adriving unit configured to drive the hand, and a display unit, at leasta part of the display unit being arranged below the hand and within amovement range of the hand, the electronic timepiece being configured toindicate first time information by a position of the hand and toindicate second time information by the display unit, the first timeinformation indicating time in a first unit of time, the second timeinformation indicating time in a second unit of time which longer thanthe first unit of time, and the method comprising: driving the hand in aclockwise direction by the driving unit as an elapsed time increases toshow increments of the elapsed time in the first unit of time;displaying, by the display unit, increments of the elapsed time in thesecond unit of time; and when the elapsed time approaches a nextincrement of the second unit of time, driving the hand in acounterclockwise direction by the driving unit to return the hand to anorigin position.
 18. A method of controlling an electronic timepiece toperform a timer function, the electronic timepiece comprising a hand, adriving unit configured to drive the hand, and a display unit, at leasta part of the display unit being arranged below the hand and within amovement range of the hand, the electronic timepiece being configured toindicate first time information by a position of the hand and toindicate second time information by the display unit, the first timeinformation indicating time in a first unit of time, the second timeinformation indicating time in a second unit of time which longer thanthe first unit of time, and the method comprising: driving the hand in acounterclockwise direction by the driving unit as a set time to becounted down decreases, to show increments of the countdown in the firstunit of time; displaying, by the display unit, increments of thecountdown in the second unit of time; and when the countdown approachesa next increment of the second unit of time, driving the hand in aclockwise direction by the driving unit to return the hand to an originposition.
 19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording mediumstoring a hand driving program that is executable by a processor of anelectronic timepiece to control the electronic timepiece to perform astopwatch function, the electronic timepiece comprising a hand, adriving unit configured to drive the hand, and a display unit, at leasta part of the display unit being arranged below the hand and within amovement range of the hand, the electronic timepiece being configured toindicate first time information by a position of the hand and toindicate second time information by the display unit, the first timeinformation indicating time in a first unit of time, the second timeinformation indicating time in a second unit of time which longer thanthe first unit of time, and the hand driving program being executable bythe processor to control the electronic timepiece to perform functionscomprising: driving the hand in a clockwise direction by the drivingunit as an elapsed time increases to show increments of the elapsed timein the first unit of time; displaying, by the display unit, incrementsof the elapsed time in the second unit of time; and when the elapsedtime approaches a next increment of the second unit of time, driving thehand in a counterclockwise direction by the driving unit to return thehand to an origin position.
 20. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium storing a hand driving program that is executable by aprocessor of an electronic timepiece to control the electronic timepieceto perform a timer function, the electronic timepiece comprising a hand,a driving unit configured to drive the hand, and a display unit, atleast a part of the display unit being arranged below the hand andwithin a movement range of the hand, the electronic timepiece beingconfigured to indicate first time information by a position of the handand to indicate second time information by the display unit, the firsttime information indicating time in a first unit of time, the secondtime information indicating time in a second unit of time which longerthan the first unit of time, and the hand driving program beingexecutable by the processor to control the electronic timepiece toperform functions comprising: driving the hand in a counterclockwisedirection by the driving unit as a set time to be counted downdecreases, to show increments of the countdown in the first unit oftime; displaying, by the display unit, increments of the countdown inthe second unit of time; and when the countdown approaches a nextincrement of the second unit of time, driving the hand in a clockwisedirection by the driving unit to return the hand to an origin Position.